SWITZERLAND: Catholic Bishop Vitus Huonder Says Bible "Unambiguously" Calls For Executing Homosexuals

Swiss Info reports:

Vitus Huonder, the controversial Catholic bishop of Chur in eastern Switzerland, has once again attracted criticism for quoting homophobic Bible passages and denouncing non-traditional family models. At the “Joy in Faith” forum in the German city of Fulda, he quoted a passage from the Bible which said homosexuals should be punished by death. In his 50-minute address on Friday, titled “Marriage – a gift, sacrament and order”, Huonder quoted various passages backing up his views. He also slammed gender theory, divorce, sex education and gay marriage. Regarding homosexuality, the 73-year-old bishop quoted two verses from the book of Leviticus, including Leviticus 20:13: “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” In response to applause, he continued: “Both of these passages alone suffice to clarify unambiguously the church’s position on homosexuality”. In his opinion, the passages also had implications for the definition of marriage and the family. “There is no diversity when it comes to marriage and family models, although a book has just come out in my bishopric called ‘Family Diversity’,” he said. “Even speaking of family diversity is an attack on the Creator.”

The Swiss LGBT rights group Pink Cross says it is looking into having Huonder charged under hate speech laws. Pink Cross: "It was in the name of these same Bible passages that a Jewish extremist stabbed six people.” Yesterday Huonder released a statement in which he expressed regret that his words were interpreted as "contemptuous."

RELATED: Sanctions against hate speech made on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity were approved by Switzerland's national legislature in March 2015.

SWITZERLAND: Hate Speech Bill Passes

Via Gay Star News:

Switzerland has voted for a law to protect LGBTI people from discrimination. The parliament voted with 103 in favor, 73 against and nine abstentions to ensure nobody is targeted with hate speech and discrimination on the basis of their sexual or gender identity. It was an amendment to a law that already protected people of different races or faiths. "It's nice to live in a country that recognizes diversity and supports the same equal protection for everyone." according to Bastian Baumann, Secretary-General of Pink Cross. Secretary General of The Swiss Lesbian Organization, Barbara Lanthemann, added: "The law is not only important for LGBT organizations; it also improves the daily life of lesbians and gays."

Last month the lower chamber of the Swiss Parliament approved a same-sex marriage bill. Should it be approved by the upper chamber, its enactment would require passage via a national referendum. In 1999 Switzerland banned anti-LGBT discrimination in business and employment. Partnership rights were recognized in 2007. In 2001 Swiss voters overwhelming rejected a campaign to join the European Union.

Bearforce 1 - Action Man

Bearforce 1 is back and this is their contest entry to represent Switzerland at Eurovision 2015. The group broke up in 2009 after landing several minor European chart hits including the 2007 disco medley, Christmas Is Here. Only original lead singer Robert Brown is part of the new lineup.

Eurovision 2014: Switzerland's Entry

Swiss bluegrass. Who knew? And whistling?

SWITZERLAND: 320,000 Petition Signatures Delivered To IOC Headquarters

Yesterday the activist group All Out delivered 320,000 petition signatures to IOC headquarters in Switzerland. The petition demands that Russia repeal its national anti-gay bill before the start of the Sochi Olympics and calls on the IOC to issue a condemnation of the law.

"Ironically, the global outcry is transforming Sochi into an amazing platform for Russians and athletes to defy the law and speak out on gay rights," said All Out co-founder and executive director Andre Banks. About 50 Swiss members of All Out joined leaders of the organization to present the petition, said All Out spokesman Guillaume Bonnet. The IOC said last week that it had "received assurances from the highest level of government in Russia that the legislation will not affect those attending or taking part in the Games." But in a meeting Wednesday with All Out representatives, senior IOC staff said they would pursue a stronger, written commitment from the Russian government on the issue, Bonnet told CNN.

An IOC spokesperson said that senior IOC officials met with All Out, accepted the petitions, and engaged in an "open and constructive discussion."

Animated Tower

Swiss high schoolers manually open and close their windows to create a giant stop-motion effect. They explain how it was done at the end.

(Via Buzzfeed)

The Swish Miss Stands Alone

After 24 hours of withering ridicule, Michele Bachmann has withdrawn her Swiss citizenship. Ladybird, however, is shopping for lovely new dirndl.

"I sent a letter to the Swiss Consulate requesting withdrawal of my dual Swiss citizenship, which was conferred upon me by operation of Swiss law when I married my husband in 1978," she said. "I took this action because I want to make it perfectly clear: I was born in America and I am a proud American citizen. I am, and always have been, 100 percent committed to our United States Constitution and the United States of America. As the daughter of an Air Force veteran, stepdaughter of an Army veteran and sister of a Navy veteran, I am proud of my allegiance to the greatest nation the world has ever known."

Crazy Eyes Obtains Swiss Citizenship

Crazy Eyes has exercised some heterosexual privilege.

Staffers for Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann are confirming a Swiss television news report that Bachmann is now a citizen of Switzerland. Bachmann's congressional spokeswoman Becky Rogness said Bachmann now enjoys dual citizenship with the US and Switzerland. "Congresswoman Bachmann's husband is of Swiss descent so she has been eligible for dual-citizenship since they got married in 1978," said Rogness. "However, recently some of their children wanted to exercise their eligibility for dual-citizenship so they went through the process as a family."

(Tipped by JMG reader Brian)

Eurovision: Switzerland's Anna Rossinelli

Pleasant enough, but again lacking the Eurocheese.

Dubya Cancels Visit To Switzerland Over Fears Of Arrest For War Crimes

George W. Bush will not be visiting Switzerland after all.

Former President George W. Bush canceled a February 12 visit to a Jewish charity gala in Switzerland, reportedly out of fears that legal action would be taken against him for his role in authorizing torture. Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, the International Federation of Human Rights, and Center for Constitutional Rights, said they had intended to submit a 2,500-page case against Bush in Geneva “on behalf of two of men, Majid Khan, who remains at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Sami al-Hajj, a former Al Jazeera cameraman who was released in May 2008.”

Duyba's would-be hosts claim they canceled his invitation because of security concerns.

(Tipped by JMG reader Bill)

Milk67 - White Monks

JMG reader Photi tips us to this bizarrely hot clip from the Swiss dance duo Milk67. NSFW due to partial nudity and copious man-on-man macking. This clip's storyline is certainly, uh, interesting.

Swiss Arrest Roman Polanski

Thirty years after he fled the United States to avoid prison for having sex with a 13 year-old girl, yesterday Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski was arrested entering Switzerland.

The Academy Award-winning director pleaded guilty in 1977 to a single count of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, acknowledging he had sex with a 13-year-old girl, but fled the United States before he could be sentenced. U.S. authorities issued a warrant for his arrest in 1978. He was taken into custody trying to enter Switzerland on Saturday, Zurich police said. Polanski, 76, has lived in France for decades to avoid being arrested if he enters the U.S. He declined to collect his Academy Award for Best Director in person when he won it for "The Pianist" in 2003. He was en route to the Zurich Film Festival, which is holding a tribute to him, when he was arrested by Swiss authorities, the festival said.

Polanski's victim filed court papers with California earlier this year, saying she no longer wanted him prosecuted. Many years ago she successfully sued Polanski and received an undisclosed settlement. Switzerland has placed Polanski under "provisional detention" until it can be determined whether he can be extradited to the United States.

80's Flashback

Yello, Bostich, 1980. The song that launched my decade-long obsession with this Swiss trio/duo. The 1980 album version of Bostich was only just over two minutes long, but the track was extended slightly for this video done four years later. And for about 15 years I had been convinced that Dieter Meier was saying, "Everybody! Pizza party!" Only when Ruffneck sampled Bostich with their 1995 hit, Everybody Be Somebody, did I realize the real lyrics. Be somebody. Pizza party. I still like my version. Trivia: Yello means "a yelled hello," according to the band.

Zurich Gets Lesbian Mayor

Zurich joins Paris and Berlin as a major world city with an openly gay mayor. LGBT activists are especially thrilled as Zurich is the host to this year's EuroPride.

Zurich, Switzerland, has elected its first female and first openly lesbian mayor, Corine Mauch. A member of the centre-left Social Democrats, Mauch has been elected with a lead of 11,000 votes over her opposition following the surprise resignation of previous incumbent Elmar Ledergerber late last year. Mauch will be delivering a speech at the opening of the Europride 09 parade, alongside European Parliament member Daniel Cohn-Bendit and Moldavian human rights activist Mihaela Copot. A spokesman of the EuroPride said: “This is a real stroke of luck for the EuroPride in Zurich. None of us really expected that”